PM Lee Hsien Loong's Chinese New Year Message 2012

Chinese New Year is a time to bond with our families, whether during the reunion dinner, while exchanging hongbaos with our relatives or over yusheng at family gatherings. Although some of us may travel overseas this long weekend, I hope that we will still make time for our loved ones.

Strong families are the foundation of a cohesive, harmonious society. Our families anchor our identity and sense of belonging. They inspire us to work hard and be better people, and are our bedrock of support in good times and bad.

These roles our families play are even more critical in today’s environment. The Year of the Rabbit has been eventful. The Year of the Dragon is likely to see more uncertainty in the global economy. Fortunately, Asia is still prospering, but Singapore is already feeling the slowdown in the West. This is one of the reasons we project 1-3% growth this year. It will be prudent for us to be psychologically prepared.

Globalisation will bring more such episodes of turbulence in future. We are strengthening our social safety nets, and broadening them to cover more families who encounter difficulties. We will do more to help Singaporeans help themselves, and create more opportunities for Singaporeans to succeed.

But the Government cannot and should not do everything. Our families remain the first line of support. They can help where Government cannot, due to the ties of kinship and love. That is why Government will always help to nurture strong families in Singapore.

One important priority is to grow our families. Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been steadily dropping from 1.60 in 2000 to 1.20 in 2011, despite many Government measures to encourage couples to have more children. This is especially true for Chinese Singa­poreans, whose TFR has dropped from 1.43 to 1.08 over the same period. Singa­pore’s TFR picked up slightly in 2011 (1.20) compared to 2010 (1.15), but I do not think we have reversed the long-term downward trend.

Historically, more babies are born in a Dragon Year as some Chinese families prefer to have “Dragon” children, believing them to be smarter, more successful or lucky. Others have more specific reasons. For example, one mother-to-be waited for over two years to have a "Dragon" baby whose zodiac sign would be compatible with her first son (an "Ox"), herself ("Rooster") and her husband ("Dragon")¹.  Hospitals are already expanding their maternity facilities to deliver more "Dragon" babies. I fervently hope that this year will be a big Dragon year for babies. But we should go beyond the Chinese zodiac and traditional beliefs, and look at more fundamental factors to encourage Singaporeans to have more children. This is critical to preserve a Singapore core in our society. We do not want to rely more and more heavily on immigration, nor do we want to see our population shrinking year by year.

Having children is ultimately a personal decision for families to make, but Government will do its part to reduce the anxieties and burdens of parenthood. Baby Bonuses already help families with the costs of raising children. We are also doing more to help parents balance work and parent­hood, including extending maternity and childcare leave, and encouraging companies to offer flexible working arrangements for employees with children. We are committed to helping young couples obtain their first HDB flat as soon as possible. With government support, childcare has become more affordable, and childcare centres are expanding and providing many more places than before. The critical factor now is not more financial incentives, but creating the supportive social climate and attitudes that will encourage couples to have more children.

One important intangible factor that influences couples is their confidence in the future of the country and of the next generation. Parents want the peace of mind that their children will grow up in a safe and stable environment. They want to be sure that their children will inherit a better Singapore than the one they themselves knew.

This is indeed our shared objective. Ultimately we all want to make Singapore the best home in the world for ourselves, our families and our children. We all want ours to remain an inclusive, meritocratic society where every child has the chance to realise his dreams and aspirations. We all want our children and grandchildren to enjoy many opportunities in Singa­pore and beyond, even as they remain rooted by a deep sense of belonging in Singapore.

Achieving these aspirations takes a national effort, founded on our values of trust, resilience and mutual accommodation. I am confident that we will succeed. I invite all Singaporeans to walk this exciting journey together.

As we celebrate Chinese New Year with our families, let us also remember others among us, such as our friends from the Malay, Indian and other ethnic groups, new immigrants and the less fortunate. Let us welcome them to join our Chinese New Year celebrations, so they too can enjoy the festive cheer and the joys of living in our multi-ethnic community.

After all, we are all part of a larger Singapore family. Regardless of our race or origin, all of us have helped build Singapore to what it is today. Our unity and cohesion through the trials and tribulations of our young history have been critical to our success. If we continue to stand together as one united people, we can face the future with confidence and resolve.

I wish all Singaporeans a very happy Chinese New Year!

[1] “Countdown to a Dragon Baby”, The Sunday Times, 15 Jan 2012.